"May and October" Avelina Rohani sat nervously across from her boyfriend, Ethan Nikholai, as he drove her to the auditorium. It was Saturday, the 2nd day of October, the first weekend of the autumnal month, and the perfect time to hold auditions for the school play and musical. Knowing his girlfriend had an excellent singing voice, Ethan tried again and again to convince her to audition, but Avelina kept on saying how badly she'd do, how uncomfortable in front of audiences she was, and how she wouldn't know anybody there anyway. "It's a good way to make friends, Avi," he said as he paused at a red light. "You already know you have something in common with them, so you can break the ice easily. And you promised me you'd try and make friends while you're here." "I don't see the point," she murmured nonchalantly. "With my luck, I'll move before the school year's halfway over. You'll keep in contact with me, right?" "Avi, you won't move. I talked to your parents; they like it here. They want you to stay, I want you to stay. Now come on, you promised." "I did," she said with a faint smile, "didn't I?" "Yes. Will you?" She sighed. "I'll try. But I'm no good at it. I'll just sing or read some lines and wait for the results. Are you sure you can't stay and watch?" "I'd love to, tulip, but duty calls. Unless you'd like to walk, you should probably hitch a ride with someone there. Another great way to make friends." He spared her a grin and turned a corner. Stanton was not far. Avelina shrugged. "I guess. It's a pity, though... that I can't drive. Not legally and not realistically." "And I can't fly." She smiled and gave his cheek a soft kiss. "I love you, my beauty." He grinned. "Ah, who needs the sky when I've got heaven right here?" She giggled and jabbed his arm with her elbow. Ethan playfully told her to stop, signaled left, and drove into the student parking lot. Plenty of other cars were there, meaning Avelina would definitely have company for her audition. Ethan put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a few kisses. "Good luck, sing well, make new friends. I mean it." "I'll try, dear. Um, Ethan, you got any time?" "A bit, why?" "I have something I'd like to talk about." He turned off the car engine, twisted, and devoted his full attention to her. When people normally looked into her piercing, liquid-silvery eyes, they shied away, thinking her rude or blind or weird, but Ethan adored them. He made plain his love of her beautiful eyes, and stared so deep that Avelina knew he could see her soul, and fell in love with it. The mere thought made her melt and smile. "I know about the car, Nicky," she said gently, using a nickname of his. Ethan winced and looked away, but Avelina took his hand and smiled. "Honey, don't worry about it. I overheard it from Ana and Rai. I'm not upset, love, I'm really not. As long as it runs, I don't care what it looks like or how many scars it has. Besides, I owe you." "Huh? How so?" Her smile broadened as she placed her palm on his chest, over his oily overshirt he took to work. "Coffee," she answered. Ethan chuckled, took her hand and kissed it, and embraced her before saying farewell. When the car left the parking lot, Avelina felt loneliness and despair creep up on her. She held herself in the blowing wind and marched to the auditorium anxiously. There were a lot of students inside, and not all of them were in Miss Post's class. There was Zane, Farrah, Alisha, and Ayanna; there was Janine, Hero, Blake, and Gabrielle; Miss Johansson and Miss Post were there, amongst many in the music and (yes) drama classes, and dozens more, some comparing the event to "American Idol". Avelina took a very deep breath and tried to ignore the thudding in her ribs as she made her way forward. At least she wasn't late. Students came in after her, and it looked as if Post and Johansson were still setting things up. Avelina lurched over to their table and cleared her throat to get her music teacher's attention. "Hi, Avelina! I was hoping you'd show up! You know, I think you're a shoe-in for the musical." "I haven't auditioned yet," she said. She leaned over the table and asked, "So what did you two finally decide on for the productions?" Elspeth Post pointed to two sheets of rough drafts, each one contributed by a lucky student. "Well, Gabrielle O'Shannon sent in a silly little thing she called, 'Jinx, Bullseye, and the Treasure of the Gold Mouse'. Not very stirring, but the premise pulled Miss Johansson's heartstrings. She thinks you'd be darling in it." "We'll see. And the play?" "It's called 'Iz this Real?', I-Z, spelled in context. You may have a part in there as well." "I'll pass on the play," murmured Rohani. Post shrugged. "Your decision. Wait over there by the stage; we'll call you out when we're ready." Avelina obeyed and nestled in one of the audience chairs, sitting by herself as per normal. She observed the large, slightly dim school auditorium with boredom, waiting for things to start. With her name being in the second half of the alphabet, she knew she'd be there for awhile, and as Ethan's words came to her, she considered doing the unthinkable and socializing. But with whom? Most all the girls had friends with them. Avelina was poor in groups. She searched for a girl like her, alone and friendless, and found one moping by herself further down. She paused in thought. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She stood and walked over, until she was hovering right above the lonely woman. "Can I sit here?" she asked meekly. The young woman looked up and gave her a faint smile. Avelina descended and sighed. The woman next to her, slightly older and taller, wore an outfit very similar to Avelina's; that is, she preferred not standing out in the crowd. She had dark eyes, practically black, and skin like bronze, with hair as thick and dark as gooey tar covering her shoulders. The woman had a beauty to her that was different, fresh, familiar and foreign; she looked about as pleasant as Avelina herself. "What're you auditioning for?" questioned Rohani. "Uhm... I may not actually go up. I kinda want to, but I'm really shy on stage." "Me too. I know what that feels like. I'm just going for the musical since Miss Johansson says I have a great voice. Um... I'm Avelina. Sorry. I'm bad at talking to people, and introductions, and social situations, and... well, lots of things." The young woman smiled with empathy and shook Avi's hand. "I'm Vai. Actually, it's Vairocana, but everyone calls me Vai, even my parents. Well, when they call me anything, really." "Vairocana... That is an unusual name." "Yeah, no kidding." "Named after a... Hindu death goddess, right?" Vai's eyes bulged open in surprise, since obviously she did not expect a stranger to know something like that. "Yeah, yeah! How'd you know?" "I like reading about names." Avelina gave her a creepy smile, but it didn't unsettle Vai. "Oh. Oh! Now I know you! You're in math class with me! That's right—you're the genius." "Is that what people are saying?" asked Avi, rather taken off guard. Vai shrugged. "Well, when one gets an A on Miss Cerio's trig quiz, one does not go unnoticed. Hey, maybe you can help me study! Lord knows I need it. I gotta wonder what I'm doing in advanced math." Vai smiled with enthusiasm; Avi shied. She was excellent in math, this was true, and at times had to correct even Miss Cerio, who was hardly a stranger to tough numbers. But genius? "Only losers call other people a genius," she muttered. Vai barely heard it. "Huh?" "Oh. I'm talking to myself. I was just saying... it gets irritating being called a genius. People say 'she's special, she's different'. As if they can't ever achieve the same thing through hard work. I just always liked numbers. I'm drawn to them. It's very easy for me, but I still work hard. All you can do is your best. If you put everything you have into something, doesn't that make you a genius as well, even though somebody may be 'better' than you?" Vai's eyes widened with surprise as she tried to express how impressed she was. She never expected a real conversation from a stranger, much less the quiet hermit Avi. Apparently the woman had a deep mind, and could think such things because, perhaps, she had more time to devote to them. Maybe a lack of friends helped... "You've got a point." "So what're you genius at, Vai?" asked Avelina, drilling her silvery eyes into the woman's face. Vai looked away from the dead gaze. "Uh, well, nothing special. I like to read and write, and do drama of course... but I hate getting up there, how ironic. I've been known to debate a lot, and I'm a bit photosensitive, which means—" "You see radiant energy." Avi gave another eerie smile and noted, "I'm dichromatic. That means—" "Partial blindness, only two colors are perceptible." Avelina nodded humbly. "Do you think I'm a freak?" Vai lowered her eyes and gave a very, very sad smile. "No, I don't. I'm a much bigger freak. I'm a masochist, and I'm messed up, and I have two mothers." "You're freaky," said Avelina quietly. It didn't sound insulting or complimentary; it was said as a note, an aside, to herself or to the air. She laughed and added, "We both are. Our eyes make us freaks. Boy, my boyfriend was right. All I had to do was try and I could make friends." "You have a boyfriend?" Avelina nodded and smiled very sweetly, looking normal for a change. "Yes, Ethan Petrov Nikholai, the world's greatest mortal man. My love and beauty, my knight, the thud in my heart and the sweetness of a long sleep after a hard day of toil and stress." "Oh. Lucky." Vai chuckled nervously, and looked up as Elspeth Post called her name. She frowned sadly and took a gasp of air. "Um, Avelina, I gotta go." "You auditioning?" "No, I'll just tell her I'm quitting, and this was a mistake." "Don't quit." Avi smiled and took her hand, and grinned. "I'd like to work alongside you. I hope you and I can be friends since you're not utterly repulsed by me. Do you drive?" "Huh? Uh, just when I need to. I drove here." "Could I have a ride home? My boyfriend had to go into work and I, well, you know. My vision. So at least stay until I'm ready to go. I'd be very grateful." Vairocana sighed and smiled very warmly, relenting easily. She took Avi's hand and clasped it before mounting the stage, taking her new friend's words to heart. Only losers call other people a genius. "She's different, she's special." Pick yourself up, Vai. All you can do is your best. If you put everything you have into something, doesn't that make you a genius as well? Elspeth Post proudly added her to the play. Sarah Johansson had just the spot for her in the musical. Avelina clapped and gave her new friend a supportive hug. Vai was not used to hugs, at least not ones from outside her family, but she returned it warmly, treasuring it. "Thanks. You have no idea how badly I needed that hug. It's been too long." "Oh. I should give you more, then." Avelina hugged Vai again, and she laughed. They let go and shared a hearty smile each. "Are you up next?" "Nah, 'R' is far down the alphabet. You're an ‘N', right?" "No, 'K', as in Fort Knox." "Oh." The girls sat back down, and with a smile, Vai just had to ask, "So... does your boyfriend have a brother?" ......... The good news was that May Tramble had made it into the musical, and she had even been cast as the lead, the infamous pirate Jinx O'Mallory, the unluckiest corsair ever (her stand-in was Vai, fittingly; Vai was to play a supporting role otherwise). Opposite her was Janine Bautista, who would play Beth "Bullseye" Johnson, Jinx's new boss-turned-rival-turned-lover (her stand-in was Avelina; she was playing a supporting role as well). May had dreams of acting, and although her singing was questionable, it was a musical with pirates, and she could not resist! The bad news was that, according to the script, she and Janine/Beth would have plenty of love scenes. It was a romantic comedy, written by Gabrielle herself a few years back, and although it contained a heterosexual love story, the frame could be fitted anywhere and thus, its acceptance. May had always wanted to be on the stage (Janine was a veteran and got the role easily, having impressed Miss Post in the past), but not like this, not the costar in a romantic comedy with another girl. Both she and Janine had professed how very un-Sapphic they were, many times; it seemed fate was opposed to their opinion, though. Of course, Avelina was glad she had not gotten the big roles. She loved Ethan so much, she would not have shared a single kiss with anyone else, neither man nor woman, even if it was an act, even if it was one time. Her character thankfully just caused trouble and had a big solo number. Vai was also spared, though her character technically had a thing for a fellow pirate, but their romance was subtle and subdued. She would barely hug the other girl—it was Janine and May who needed to worry. Their troubles started on the first day of rehearsal, the first Monday of October, after school. Miss Johansson was in charge of most of the play, while Miss Post directed part of it and had Gabrielle O'Shannon come in to add, edit, or cut away as she saw. Most of the actresses and singers liked Miss Johansson (or Miss Jo, as she permitted them to call her) and got along with her well, so having her direct and choreograph was natural. Singing, dancing, and acting was no problem (after all, it was Gabrielle who had written it, and being dyslexic, nearly every line in the story was simple); it were those awkward romantic moments that bothered them. For the time being, May and Janine pantomimed false kisses, leaning in to barely brush their cheeks together, or else using their backhands. They would carry on with their lines, pausing here and there to observe a romantic moment, and continued, or evolved into song. A few of the more bawdy girls hoped to see some "action", and took no liberty in reminding the stars that sooner or later, they would have to smooch. The audience would not buy false romance from two scoundrels who were supposed to be infatuated with each other. The worst part about it all was that Bautista and Tramble knew they were right. They decided to do the professional thing and get it over with in privacy, so May drove to Janine's house, leaving her sister to study with Victoria and Olivia, who she had befriended at the pool some days earlier. She brought her copy of the script over (having memorized nearly all of it), and a fit of nervousness to boot. She knew that Janine had locked lips with girls before, mostly in friendly gestures with her close pals, but was still generally uncomfortable about it. May was a virgin when it came to kissing, though: she had not even kissed her parents, nor her sister, nor even her last boyfriend. She saw her breath come out as she rang the doorbell. Janine answered a few seconds later, looking pretty in one of her many outfits. She had on enough accessories to pass off as a corsair queen (Post gave her permission to use some items from home in the play), and her Filipino-Chinese roots gave her the exotic finish. She swept her wavy black hair aside as she smiled and welcomed her friend inside. "You look great," said May. "You too. You growing your hair out?" "Yeah, I decided to last month. I haven't cut it since my birthday, and I'm waiting for it to get to my waist before I start trimming it. I missed having long hair." She grinned, Janine shared it, and they sat on the floor, cross-legged. May's hair was well past her ears, slightly longer than Janine's, tied in a horsetail, and was such a dark brown it looked nearly black (June's was a shade lighter, more like milk chocolate). Jinx O'Mallory, who had short hair in the script, would have to wear a bandanna. "Well," said Janine uneasily, "let's get to work. No more avoiding it. We have to do this; the entire show depends on those silly love scenes Gab put in." "Should we say anything to her?" (May was studying Gabrielle in Madsen's class that week) Janine shook her head. "No, let's not. It'd break her heart, and I owe her one for keeping a certain secret of mine. Besides," she added testily, "it's not like I've never kissed a girl before, and you are a good friend of mine. You... apply." "Thanks," murmured May, unenthusiastic. "I've never kissed anyone for the record. You'll... be my first, if we go along with this. And that other girl, uh... Avi-something, she'll have a fit if we don't, and would probably quit. We need that voice, Jean." "I know! She'd blow Simon Cowell away easily." May agreed with a smile. "Then let's get this over with, and stop being selfish. It's just a play after all." "Musical." "Right, whatever. It's not like it matters." She gave a very watery grin, hardly convincing. Janine cleared her throat. "So... how do you wanna do this? Just... go for it, or practice lines?" "Maybe we could just do a little one first," mumbled May shyly. "Like get a, uh, feel for it, y'know? Then practice lines and see how that goes." "Okay." Janine uncrossed her legs and "sat" on her knees, feet pointed backwards. She bunched up her hair so it stayed out of her face as May did the same. They both looked at each other and took several nervous breaths. The pause was numbing. "Uh... you ready?" asked May, visibly shaking. Janine tried to control her own shivers with a frown. "I guess. You cold?" "No, just nervous, y'know. I mean, you know... I've never kissed anyone." "It's not so bad," offered Janine, "and I guarantee you, it won't make you gay. Believe me on this." May grinned but still shivered. She took another breath and tried to relax. "Okay," she huffed, "just a little one. For practice. For the play." Janine nodded, blinked, leaned in, and closed her eyes as she felt May's lips touch hers. Peck. They parted. Whew. She smiled. "No big deal." "Meh. I had always hoped my first kiss would be... you know, romantic. No offense." "Yeah, I know. My first with a girl was with Vicki, just as an experiment—you know, something in grade school. Well, uh... you wanna try again? Go for the lines? Make it short, make it long?" May knew she would regret her words, but... the thespian in her was too strong! Anything for the stage, or as near as her conscience allowed! "Maybe... another one." Janine nodded and repeated the kiss. She took a breath after it ended, a mere brief half-second later. Not bad. She smiled and went for a slightly longer one, finally getting a good taste of May's mouth. The poor young woman slipped away after feeling her friend's lips for just a moment too long. "Sorry. It's just weird." "I know. Should we stop?" "We have to get this down. We won't convince anybody we're supposed to... you know... like each other." "But that means we'll have to get intense. May..." Janine's beautiful brown eyes, so similar to May's, beamed with professional intensity and desire; she too had an inner thespian wanting to burst out, and in spite of the "risk", she wanted to grant it freedom. "We're going to have to do it. We may not like it, but the show..." "Must go on," they chanted together. May sighed and said, "Well, let's read from the script a bit and get a feeling of how we're really supposed to feel." "A feeling of how we're supposed to feel?" May gave her friend a smoldering yet friendly look, nudged her in the knee, and plucked her copy up. She read from her highlighted lines, Janine from hers. Jinx: Bah! No huge treasure to be found after all! What a waste! Just some foolish old mementoes! We can't even sell any of this! Bullseye: I know. What kind of a pirate would put such sentimental things into a box and claim it's the greatest treasure of all? He must've been—(she pauses suddenly. The two pirates slowly realize the importance of the "treasure") Jinx: Beth! That's it! This was everything Mouse loved! His TRUE love, I mean! Gold and silver may rot, but here, it's his love that remains, eternally—a sign for those who come seeking the greatest treasure. Bullseye: You mean to say... that all this time... it has been LOVE? Jinx: Yes. And... he was right. I love you, Bethany my darling—more even than treasure, for you are a treasure in yourself. (he kisses her passionately) "Uh, what now?" asked May. Janine frowned and shrugged. "Kiss me passionately, I guess." "Jean..." "I know, I know. May, I swear, either I'll make all this up to you or Gabrielle will get a piece of my mind. Just... for the play, all right? We both got the roles, so we may as well play them out. It is just an act, after all." "That makes things better," murmured the older woman. She sighed in defeat, and resigned herself to the whims of the authoress as she took Janine into her arms and tried her hardest—her damnedest—to kiss the other woman with passion. May Tramble frightened herself to death as she felt immense sparks flying. She had to force herself to pull away. "I think that's good enough," she croaked shyly. Janine blushed. "Yeah... uh... let's read on." Bullseye: Jinx... what a sweet person you are. I love you too, and everything about you. How could I live without that smile you give me, that laugh I feel, that utter joy and sheer rush...? Let the seven seas be wide and strong enough to hold our love; all the land itself could not! (she returns his passionate kiss) "God, I swear, Gab..." Janine growled to herself; May braced herself for the kiss. They shared a sad frown and submitted themselves to the stage, and each other, again. Janine kissed with passion; she felt May get into it and, amazingly, perhaps, enjoying it. They both moaned. Flames and eruptions burst in her chest. She slowly slipped out of control: May's lips were so entrancing... "Guh! ...Sorry!" Both girls sat there trying to catch their breath, hiding their flushed faces as best they could. May massaged her cheeks. Janine blew air from a mouth that had been nearly making out with her own friend's lips. They took a breather and asked if each other were all right, and if they should continue. Yes—for the play. Jinx: Then let us be wed, and live together as lovers on the sea, true living examples of the greatest treasure in the world: Both: Pure love! (they kiss again.) (song: Finale, "Love is a Treasure") "Here we go again," muttered May. She took Janine carefully and kissed her, holding her shoulders as their lips met, rubbed, parted, puckered, pouted, gasped, and merged. The mouth-to-mouth embrace lingered. Janine took May's hands and clasped their fingers together. May gave out a soft moan of contentment, "Mmm," and continued kissing, laying her lips on Janine's again, again, again, again, and then they parted. Their faces were pink and white, embarrassed, with unexpected excitement traced upon them. May took Janine's cheek in her hand, pulled the other girl close, and kissed her. Janine laid her hand over her friend's, opened her mouth, and gently enveloped the top lip. May gently pecked, planted, petted the lower; they parted and stared, part horrified and part aroused, into each other's brown eyes. "Ohmygod, I'm so sorry..." "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." "Sorry." They distanced themselves, breathed desperately, and tried to gain their composure. Tried, and failed. "This is nuts," whispered May, sounding afraid. Janine agreed wholeheartedly. "Yeah. I think we better stop for now." "Should we... try again? I mean... you know... later?" "Maybe. Let's wait awhile, and... make sure our heads are on straight first." "Right." May packed her things up and murmured a farewell. She left Janine's house in a stupor, touching her lips again and again, surprised at herself and how she had nearly lost control. Questions, like the falling gold leaves, piled up everywhere as she drove off towards home. ......... May Tramble was still in shock when she came through the door and dropped her things. She made her way to the den couch and slumped on it, willing to "veg out" for the rest of the day. She got as far as turning the TV on to a used car commercial when her sister and Victoria came into the room, one escorting the other. "Hey sis. How'd it go?" May gave her twin sister a look of complete incredulity. How could she possibly answer?! "Progress was... made." "Good. Remind me when the first show opens and I'll buy front row seats." "Will do. Uh, Vicki, will you and Olivia be joining us for dinner?" "No, sorry," said the young girl, "dad's got something planned and Liv has more homework than she does hair on her head. We'll be going as soon as our ride—" HONK-HONK!! "...Gets here." She grinned sheepishly, then focused down on June. The two girls squeezed hands and, to May's surprise, exchanged a kiss, right on the mouth. She blinked in surprise as Victoria shied away smiling, and barely whispered a farewell as she opened the door. When the two Trambles were alone, May stared at June in a way she never thought she would before. "What was that about?" June Tramble, chocolate hair and wheelchair, smiled sweetly as her cheeks grew rosy and her hands fumbled. She cleared her throat and looked up at her twin sister. "I'm coming out of the closet, May," she announced. "Vicki is my girlfriend."
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